NWSL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: ANDRESSINHA

Houston’s Andressinha Named NWSL Player of the Week

Andressinha of the Houston Dash has been named NWSL Player of the Week after leading her side to a win over Washington. The NWSL Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis.

Andressinha, 22, scored the game-winning goal for the Dash in a 2-1 home win over the Washington Spirit as Houston extended their unbeaten run to five matches and set a new club record with 11 points over that period. The club’s previous high for points from a five-game stretch was 10, recorded during September of the 2016 season.

The Roque Gonzales, Brazil, native struck home a 24-yard effort that she lifted over Spirit goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé and into the top left corner. The 53rd-minute blast, assisted by Rachel Daly, gave Houston a 2-0 advantage as the Dash scored multiple goals in a match for the fifth time this campaign.

The Brazilian international now has two goals and two assists in 11 appearances this year for the Dash, but her impact against Washington in Week 13 went far beyond the scoreboard as she completed 83.7 percent of her 49 total passes – including 79.4 percent of her team-high 34 total passes in the opposing half, according to Opta.

Photo Credit: Houston Dash

It is the first time Andressinha has been honored as the NWSL Player of the Week and the eighth time a member of Houston has received the award.

Andressinha is the third-youngest player to earn the award and the first player born in 1995 or later to accomplish the feat. The only two players younger than Andressinha (22 years, 2 months, 17 days) at the time they were voted NWSL Player of the Week are Sky Blue FC forward Samantha Kerr (20 years, 9 months, 0 days old – Week 9 of the 2014 season as a member of the Western New York Flash) and FC Kansas City midfielder Erika Tymrak (21 years, 11 months, 16 days – Week 15 of the 2013 season).

The Dash will return to action on Saturday, July 22, at 8:30 p.m. ET against the Boston Breakers at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Header Photo Credit: Wilf Thorne/ISI Photos

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Chris Rael is a reporter for GoalNation and covers youth and adult soccer.
A multimedia artist whose hobbies include camping, traveling and playing football as much as possible. Chris is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands.